Topic: unusual bulb vase shape.

[Paul S.]

Having looked through the recent publication from Patricia Coccoris, this one seems to be an unusual shape.       In the book there is a reproduction of a page from a French catalogue from 1885, showing an example which is about the nearest I can get to the shape of mine  -  page 114 - No. 1022.         Apparently, the catalogue seems to have considered that several shapes illustrated, including this one, to have been 'English Models' (Formes anglaises).
I haven't a clue as to whether this is correct or not - the colour seems to have been quite universal, and the only thing I can say about this one is that the snapped pontil mark plus heavy wear makes me consider a date of somewhere in the third quarter of the C19 - or perhaps even earlier
Was this unusually shallow pan top a feature of some particular manufacturer, possibly??
So if anyone would like to add to my limited knowledge, I'd be interested to hear if people think it is of British origin, or not, and possible date of manufacture.      thanks for looking

Ref.  'The Curious History of the Bulb Vase'   -   Patricia Coccoris   -   2012  (a must if you have the remotest interest in glass)

[Paul S.]

apologies, forgot the height........7.75" - 195mm.

[ju1i3]

I'm afraid I can't add any info but I was curious, does it have a matte finish? It looks like it in the pic. (I have never seen that shape before.)

[Paul S.]

the answer is no..............it's the usual fairly glossy finish you'd expect, plus the wear and tear marks of time.       Regret my original pic was rather poor quality - so am adding another couple which may help:)

[Patricia]

Hi Paul,

Christine just called, ordering me back to the GMB to have a look at your hyacinth vase (just kidding, but I had missed it).
You found something very unusual to say the least, I have never seen this model before.
My gut feeling says that it is not French. I went through all the French catalogues I own but found none. Also the colour (for hyacinth vases that is ) does not look very French.
I wonder if it was made in Belgium, for the English market. That happened quite a lot and not only in Belgium but as you could read, Holland did that too. The model looks very much like the popular British so-called Richmond, but isn't. And if you go to the site of Jay (Hogelandshoeve) and look at all the Belgium glass there (a lot of amethyst), it would not surprise me if that was the case. May be send him an email and ask what he thinks? We all seem to ignore Belgium glass a bit (well, I do) and I have been surprised before.
Hope it helped.

Patricia

[Paul S.]

thanks for taking the time to have a look Patricia  -  and I know that Christine always has my best interests at heart
This was another of my holiday finds, and I did think at the time that this shape was most unusual - and in view of what appears to be a snapped pontil I was convinced it was C19 - I love old glass, such history.
I will do as you suggest and contact Jay and see if he is able to throw any light on this vase, and let you know his reply.     
My thanks again

[Patricia]

Patrricia asked me to give the link to Jay's site:

http://www.hogelandshoeve.nl/index45.html

PC, Christine and I should be meeting him on Friday at the Leerdam glass fair. I imagine Christine's suitcase will be clinkin' 'n jinglin'...

Paul, if you can contact Jay before Friday, this will allow us to chat with him about it on the day.

David E (from Patricia's computer)

[Paul S.]

thanks David  -  I have already sent an email to Jay (together with pix)  -  have taken a web contact address from the internet (a url I believe it's called).        Hope it gets to the correct destination  -  I will send again if nothing received before tomorrow afternoon.

[Paul S.]

Jay has very kindly taken a look at this vase, and has replied as follows:

"I'm afraid I can't add any information about this one.
The shape is a little reminiscent of a design by Copier and that maybe a clue that your vase originates at Doyen (a Belgian factory which specialised in making small runs using examples or sketches of designs from other factories)
They also made a lot of products in amethyst (purple) which might be a clue. However this is really just a guess!! The model is not one that I've ever seen before and it doesn't appear in any catalogue that I'm familiar with.
Sorry I can't be more helpful...
Jay"

So remains a mystery for the time being - hopefully we might discover some provenance in the coming months.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to look